More Than 20 Years Later, Some Viewers Still Don't Understand The Appeal Of Jackass

Publish date: 2024-06-25

Having your buttocks seared with a cattle branding iron, eating omelets made from vomit, and even super gluing yourself to someone else seems anything but funny to many people. However, there are millions who love watching someone else get up to this kind of stunt, especially if they seem to be having fun in the process.

Jackass Forever, released in February 2022, racked up $70 million at the box office. The follow-up, Jackass 4.5 has raced into the list of Netflix Top Ten. Even though the original cast members are now in their 50s, they still have a huge following. Plus, the franchise has a growing fan base amongst the 18-34-year-old group.

Some People Wonder Why Jackass Is So Popular

Posting on Reddit, a viewer asked: “I've been trying to get into the Jackass movies, but I just can't. I've been told that these were hysterical by close friends, but I really don't think I get it. Is it an ironic appreciation or is it sincere? Do people view this as genuinely funny slapstick or does the humor derive more from the shock of watching somebody do something gross/dangerous?”

The answers were varied. While some fans said that a feeling of nostalgia is what keeps them going back for each sequel, others just love it for what it is.

What Makes Jackass So Funny For Some?

Jackass in all its permutations has been called outrageous, indecent, and disgustingly gross, but yet its appeal continues.

One Redditor has this to say: “I've outgrown it to some extent, but the cast has a likable quality because they are just down for whatever if they think it will get a laugh. It's a totally unpretentious embrace of all things idiotic, dangerous, and ridiculous. The key is that they're in on the joke, and they never seemed to get an ego or lose the spirit of what made it fun in the first place."

Jackass has never pretended to be clever comedy.

As another response read: “It's dumb fun that doesn't take itself seriously. I still remember seeing the first episode on MTV when it debuted. It was an immediate Wow, WTF is this?. There just hadn't been anything quite like it on mainstream TV yet.”

Perhaps part of the appeal is the total irreverence around the concept.

Some Clues May Lie In How Jackass Began

Before the blockbuster movies, there was a hit series. The initial idea was based on a concept by actor Johnny Knoxville. Struggling to find acting work, Knoxville decided to try stunt journalism and approached skateboarding magazine Big Brother.

The publication was known for featuring bizarre articles like how to make a fake ID or step-by-step instructions on how to harm oneself; nothing was off-limits.

Knoxville’s pitch for the job was perfect. It involved him testing self-defense weapons on himself.

Big Brother editor Jeff Tremaine loved the idea, and took it a step further, asking Knoxville to make a video of himself trying out pepper spray, tasers, and stun guns, and even shooting himself in the chest while wearing a bulletproof vest.

The videos garnered a huge following. In a time before cell phones, fans unable to film themselves trying out crazy stunts loved watching someone else performing them.

Joined by Hollywood director Spike Jonze, the team decided to use the concept for a TV show. Networks were interested, with one offer from Saturday Night Live, which would see a weekly slot of the team’s antics. But MTV’s offer was more appealing, their own 25-minute shows.

Jackass premiered on MTV in October 2000, and became an instant success. Within a few months, it was in the channel’s number one slot.

It ran for two years, becoming one of the most famous reality shows of all time. And stars Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Chris Pontius, and Steve O became pop culture icons.

It was also highly controversial, given the dangerous aspect and the risk of copycat stunts ending in disaster. The programs carried a warning for viewers, urging them not to try and to duplicate what they saw on screen. Despite that, there were a number of instances where viewers, especially young kids, were hurt and even killed, trying to copy stunts.

The third season was shot under strict control by a representative of the Occupational Health and Safety Administration. Faced with the prospect of doing a watered down version of the show, Knoxville quit.

The team took a decision to move on from the series and make a movie, which went on to take $80 million. And Jackass continues to perform well at the box office. In a time when many franchises are struggling to keep going, this one proves to be the exception.

The Actors Have Suffered Serious Injuries

Fans love the fact that even when team members get hurt, it’s laughed off on screen. The stars have suffered multiple concussions, fractured skulls, broken bones, burns and more, all in the name of entertainment. But no matter what happens, the cast members don’t take it seriously.

Amongst other injuries, Knoxville has suffered a brain hemorrhage and a broken ankle.

When Margera broke his tailbone during a boxcar race in Season 2, his friends watched him writhing in pain, and commented that humans don’t have tails and thus have no need for tailbones.

The Actors Have Kept Going

22 years after Jackass began, the team is still staging outrageous stunts and pranks, although it’s getting harder to do. Despite the inclusion of younger cast members and celebrities, Knoxville and Steve O were both hospitalized during the shooting of Jackass Forever.

In a subsequent interview with GQ, Steve O said “Filming Jackass at this age is much the same as it ever was, with two big differences. Our bones break significantly easier. And it takes less to knock us completely unconscious. Plus, it takes longer to wake up.”

Despite that, there’s already talk of Jackass 5. And fans can’t wait to see it.

As Knoxville once said, in answer to a question about why they do specific stunts, “It just seemed really funny at the time.”